Well-drilling apparatus



March 18, 1930. G. R. WATSON WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m M W e m G'..R.Wason,

attozmq March 18, 1930. G. R. WATSON WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6. R War 660 am an March 18, 1930. G, R, WATSON 1,750,826

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 gnwmtoz George 2?. Watson,

6cm wag Patented Man 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. WATSON, OF WATERLOO, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO ARMSTRONG MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF WATERLOO, IOWA WELL-DRILLING APPARATUS that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings, Fig. 1- is a front and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the upper partof the mast or derrick of a well drilling machine as equipped with my improved cushioning device for the sheave-block and tool-carrying cable. Figs. 3 and 4 are elevations of a modification of the device. Fig. 5 is a plan of one of the apertured elastic cushions of the said device, on a larger scale. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section of one of said-elastic cushions as mounted between a pair of rigid plates, the dotted lines indicating the changed shape of the cushion when under compression. Fig. 7 is a plan of the rigid top member of said cushioning device. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of the mast or derrick taken on the broken line 8-8 of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a, diagrammatic elevation of an o crating means of a well drilling machine an of the top part of the derrick thereof, showing the manner of mounting the cableupon the derrick sheave and as supported upon said cushioning de vice.

In the last-mentioned figure 13 denotes the swinging arm of the well drilling machine which lifts and drops the-cable 1 1 alternately with the heavy depending drilling tool 12. The cable is progressively paid out during the drilling of the well-hole by said tool in a well-known manner not illustrated, and runs about a sheave 14 on the arm 13 and thence upwardly over a sheave 8 mounted rotatably in alined bearing apertures 10 in a block 7 which is supported upon an elastic cushioning device composed of alternated rigid plates 4 and .soft rubber cushions 1.

This cushioning device is mounted and supported upon the relatively fixed support- 1ng mast or derrick 6 by means of a stem passed upwardly from the derrick rigidly through alined central apertures in said pile of plates and cushions.

The arm 13 is swung to and fro by means of a rotary shaft 17 with crank 16, and a connecting-rod 15 connected between said crank and said arm.

Referring now to the other figures, in which the details of the invention are more specifically illustrated, the derrick is composed of laterally spaced substantially vertical channel bars 6 rigidly connected by a yoke 23 in Fig. 1, and by a similar yoke 19 in' Fig. 3, and

lower down by transverse bars as at 26 and 27. Referring to said-Figs. 3 and 4, the numeral 18 denotes plates riveted opposite each other along one face of each channel bar 6 and the numeral 28 denotes Fig. 8) angle bars riveted to the inner faces of the channel bars to thus provide vertically disposed slideways for a pair of wooden slide-beams 7 placed in contact with the inner faces of the channel bars. The upper ends of the beams? have notched seats 10 to removably receive the ends of a cross shaft 9 carrying a sheave 8 between the channel bars. Upon the front and rear faces of the blocks 7 are fastened the upright members of U-shaped plates 24, and from these depend a discoidal part. 20. and a centrally depending stem 5. This stem 5 is loosely slidably seated in alined central apertures 2 of a cushioning device below the part 20 and comprising a pile of alternated rigid plates 4 and soft elastic rubber cushions lbetween the late part 20 and a bottom plate part 22, the latter forming part of a casting having curvate lateral projections 23 which are riveted to the chan nel bars 6.

The soft rubber discoidal cushions 1 preferably have a plurality of circular apertures 3 lengthwise through them arranged c0ncen trio with the central aperture 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the same principart 21 having a ple of construction and function has been employed, but modified, as the top yoke 23 part of the stem 29 is also threaded to receive 1 a nut 31 bearing against a tubular abutment depending from the lower plate 22, and this abutment part has arcuate members which are riveted to and between the members of the inverted U-shaped plates 24. I

Either modification may be used at option or choice of the purchaser of the machine, for their functions are identical.

It will be noted that said Fig. 6"displays in dotted lines the approximate shape of each discoidal rubber cushion 1 while under compression of the weighty cable 11 and drilling device 12. When the tool has attained a depth of several thousand feet in a drill hole, the cable, whether of metal or otherwise hangs with great weight upon the sheave 8. A metal cable has noinherent lengthwise elasticity, so that without the use of some elastically cushioning device therefor, the cable and tool may be damaged, and the operation of the tool is imperfect, as no rebound to an extent occurs when the tool is dropped, w ich if present aids the work of drilling. My pile of cushioning disks 1 gives the required elasticity to the cable action, and. the stress of compression is equally distributed among the several disks, and also throughout the different parts of each disk, so that there is no inequality of action and use, which conduces to longevity of the disks, and more regular action thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a relatively fixed support, a resilient device mounted thereon and comprising a pile of alternated centrally apertured rigid plates and soft rubber cushions, said sheave-block having a threaded shank passed through the central apertures of said pile and adjustably secured thereto to be resiliently supported thereon.

2. In combination, a relatively fixed support, a resilient device mounted thereon and comprising a pile of alternated centrallyapertured rigid plates and soft rubber cushions, the cushions having a. plurality of longitudinal apertures around their central apertures, and said sheave-block having a threaded shank passed through said central apertures, and means for adj ustably securing said sheave-block shank to a terminal rigid plate of said pile to resiliently adjustably support the sheave-block upon said pile.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature. 

